In July, 2024 I lost the man I loved. Heart attack. The poem “ I carry you in my heart” by e.e. cummings really helped me. These are some memories I have of him. Now, I’m making memories with a new love, but the one who is gone is traveling with me.
photographed a blue butterfly,
watched it flitter away
to join another, then
dance across the water,
alighting on a stepping stone.
Another day we followed a trail
that led to ancient trees.
We stood in awe,
touched their bark with reverence, then
tilted our faces upward,
reaching for the sunlit sky.
A gorge we went to visit -
the ranger recommended the trolley,
but no, we took the trail instead.
We struggled with the incline,
the slippery slope, then
laughed at our naïve decision.
At the top of the famous cliffs
we once stood,
impressed by their enormity -
thankful for clear blue skies,
for a bucket list fulfilled,
and for being together.
These journeys and more -
memories I did not know,
could not have known,
how deeply I’d treasure
now that he is gone.
Through these memories,
he lives in me.
Poetry by Melinda K Zarate
Written on 2025-11-18 at 16:00
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Treasured Journeys
Along a river we once walked,photographed a blue butterfly,
watched it flitter away
to join another, then
dance across the water,
alighting on a stepping stone.
Another day we followed a trail
that led to ancient trees.
We stood in awe,
touched their bark with reverence, then
tilted our faces upward,
reaching for the sunlit sky.
A gorge we went to visit -
the ranger recommended the trolley,
but no, we took the trail instead.
We struggled with the incline,
the slippery slope, then
laughed at our naïve decision.
At the top of the famous cliffs
we once stood,
impressed by their enormity -
thankful for clear blue skies,
for a bucket list fulfilled,
and for being together.
These journeys and more -
memories I did not know,
could not have known,
how deeply I’d treasure
now that he is gone.
Through these memories,
he lives in me.
Poetry by Melinda K Zarate
Written on 2025-11-18 at 16:00
Save as a bookmark (requires login) Write a comment (requires login) Send as email (requires login) Print text
